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A Journal beginning the 22. day of December 1627

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

Abstract

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Type
Journal of Sir Kenelm Digby
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1868

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References

page note 2 a Probably George Strode, a merchant of London, to whom, with many others, a royal commission was directed on the 16th February 1627–8, to inquire what money had been collected by a per-centage upon shipping levied towards an expedition against Algiers. See State Papers of Charles I. under that date.

page note 3 a In the margin of the original manuscript there are inserted here rough sketches of two lanterns.

page note 3 b Here occur similar sketches of three lanterns.

page note 3 c Here similar sketches of two lanterns.

page note 3 d Here similar sketches of three lanterns.

page note 4 a Marbella.

page note 4 b Ivica and Majorca.

page note 6 a The following is a note in the margin of the manuscript, “Here the wind is so vncertaine that sometimes I haue had a fresh gale att east, and my viceadmirall within a cables length of me hath had it att west, and it is continually shifting.”

page note 6 b Spartel.

page note 6 c Abyla, the rock on the African coast which, with Calpe (Gibraltar) on the European side of the Straits, formed the pillars or columns of Hercules.

page note 6 d Marbella.

page note 7 a Velez Malaga.

page note 8 a Hyeres.

page note 9 a So Algiers was at this time usually termed, or, as in The Tempest, Argier.

page note 10 a The 2nd of February is termed the day of the Purification of the Virgin.

page note 11 a The passage within brackets has been subsequently added by Sir Kenelm in the margin of the MS.

page note 12 a This is another passage added in the margin of the MS.

page note 12 b In the Private Memoirs of Sir Kenelm Digby, published by Sir Harris Nicolas, there occur some striking remarks on the infectiousness of this terrible disease, with a notice of the calenture in which it terminated. “For the nature of it being such, that from those who were infected with it, it took hold of others that were in perfect health, like fire when it is joined to combustible matter, if they did but come within distance of each other's breath, or touch any part of their garments, it came to pass t”iat in a very short time almost all were possessed with it, by reason of the great number of men enclosed in a small room; and, although every one strived to avoid t lose that were sick, whereby they died in much desolation without any help, yet t le infection was so rooted in the ship that they could not fly from it; and if natural affection to his friend, or charity, moved any one to be so tender as to do another the offices belonging to a sick man, many times with a sudden death he prevented the other's languishing one, and by this means it happened often that dead bodies lay many days in their cabins and hamacas, nobody daring to go overlook t;iem, and much less to throw the noisome carcases overboard, until their intolerable sdnk discovered them; but sometimes there were mean fellows that would come to steal what they found about the bodies of those that were of better quality, and then by their own sudden death in the same place they would bewray their theft. But that which of all others seemed to cause most compassion was the furious madness of those who were near their end, the sickness then taking their brain; and those were in so great abundance that there were scarce men enough to keep them from running overboard or from creeping out of the ports, the extreme heat of their disease being such that they desired all refreshings, and their depraved fantasy made them believe the sea to be a spacious and pleasant green meadow. This extremity of evil taught the meanest rank of people what the noblest of philosophy can scarcely do to the most elevated minds, that is, a most resupine patience in their sufferance, the familiarity and inevitableness of which made them in the end not to apprehend or fear it.” (8vo. Lond. 1817, pp. 311–313.)

page note 13 a A small swift-sailing vessel, probably named from sattean, the boat used in the Mediterranean for coral fishing.

page note 21 a i. e. luff.

page note 22 a An after insertion.

page note 25 a The words within brackets added afterwards.

page note 26 a The Strait of Messina.

page note 27 a tight.

page note 28 a Pratique, a permission to trade and have free intercourse with the inhabitants.

page note 31 a Afterwards added.

page note 32 a “thim “in MS.

page note 32 b Nimble, quick.

page note 33 a Caramussale, a Turkish merchant vessel.

page note 33 b The Archipelago.

page note 34 a Cerigo.

page note 35 a Æneid, iii. 210.

page note 35 b Cerigotto and the other islands or rocks here named all lie between the southern extremity of the Morea and Candia.

page note 35 c Added afterwards.

page note 36 a Strong pieces of timber so placed as to keep the masts steady.

page note 36 b Adalia or Satalieh.

page note 36 c Antiochetta.

page note 36 d A vessel rigged after the Levantine fashion.

page note 37 a A gentle, easy gale.

page note 37 b Inserted afterwards. The addition is of course more accurate than the original statement.

page note 38 a The headland to the southward of Scanderoon, now termed Ras (i.e. Cape) el Kansir.

page note 38 b “The General of theGalleazzes was called Signor Antonio alias Marino Capello, the commander of most fame and reputation for valour among the Venetians, and these were their best vessels by much, as well galleazzes as galliones; the captaine of them was named Signor Giouan Paulo Gradenigo.” [Note in MS.]

page note 39 a “Iu this fight I lost noe men, but killed 49, and hurt many of the Venetians, and shott from my shippe 200 shott, 500 from my fleete, and they as many att me.” [Note in MS.]

page note 39 b Avania, an impost.

page note 41 a Scanderoon.

page note 46 a Arsus, to the northward of Cape Cangieri, and between it and Scanderoon.

page note 46 b Laodicea, or as it is now termed Latikia?

page note 47 a “Here in this bay I saw land so high above high cloudes that it was long before I could belieue it to be land. I think it is not lesse high then the Pike of Tenariffa.”

page note 48 a Lucho.

page note 49 a i.e. of the Levant?

page note 50 a Charts.

page note 52 a Grabnsa is now the name of the principal island of this little groupe.

page note 53 a “Afterwardes I found they were 3 litle Ilandes, not Anania, which lyes more W.”

page note 53 b “Many of the towne told me it was true, and familiar to them; euerie daye fisher boates were serued so, and many that spoke with me had heard the voice ”Hala! Hala!” which is, “Haile in the roape!” And some old men remembred when there were no Ilandes there, hut they grew by litle and litle out of the sea, first with great thundring noises like shooting of peeces of artillerie, and dayly grew more and more, and now lately one litle one was growing out.” [This and the preceding note were added afterwards by Sir Kenelm Digby.]

page note 57 a This passage was written in the first instance without the “much.” On inserting it perhaps Sir Kenelm omitted to add “of.”

page note 58 a Koroni.

page note 58 b Strophadia.

page note 60 a “With the much and violent motion of the roape the blocke did take fire.” [Note by Sir Kenelm Digby.]

page note 60 b Valonea, the acorn-cnp of a peculiar kind of oak (Qitercus Ægilops), much used in tanning.

page note 62 a Inserted afterwards by Sir Kenelm Digby in the margin of the MS.

page note 64 a Subsequently added, in the margin of the MS., by Sir Kenelm Digby.

page note 71 a These words seem to have been a subsequent insertion. The Faro alluded to was of course that of Messina.

page note 71 b “They stood after that vessell, and not knowing what had pased betweene them and me, Captaine Stradling made the Florentine strike and tacke towardes me, and come abord him, though att the first he was very peremptorie till Captaine Stradling told him he would shoote att him. He knew the exact relation as I haue sett it downe, of my fight with the galligrosses at Scandirone, with addition of much spoken by him to our honor; but with all said how by Bruer Eaers his meanes it was bruited through Italy that I was very cruell, and heaued them all ouer bord that I tooke. When Cap[tain] Strad[ling] had perfect satisfaction of the shippe he dismissed him, seing I stood off. The third day after being calme 3 gallies came out to him from Messina, but a litle breath came, and he then standing to them they ranne away.” [All this has been subsequently added in the margin of the MS. as a note.]

page note 71 c Ætna.

page note 72 a Added in the margin, “Limosa.”

page note 72 b The like, “Lampidosa.”

page note 73 s The words within brackets were a subsequent insertion.

page note 74 a Added subsequently in the margin of the MS.

page note 74 b Girgenti?

page note 75 a Inserted afterwards.

page note 75 b Gartanzos, Spanish, or chick pease?

page note 79 a Added subsequently in the margin.

page note 81 a Added subsequently in the margin.

page note 83 a Sagres: the southern point of Cape St. Vincent.

page note 84 a Islands or rocks off the coast of Portugal.

page note 84 b Cape Espicliel.

page note 85 a Cabo da Eoca, the Rock of Lisbon.

page note 86 a Subsequent insertion.

page note 90 a Ouse.

page note 91 a St. Michael's Mount.

page note 93 a Fairlight.

page note 95 a Robert Digby, eldest son of Sir Robert Digby of Coleshill, brother of John Earl of Bristol, created Lord Digby of Geashill in the peerage of Ireland, on the 29th July, 1610.